2016 Subaru Forester
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 414 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 26 Forester model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 40 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 17 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationOct 3, 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.
If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.
Campaign 19V701000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchFeb 28, 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing the brake lights from illuminating and also preventing keyless ignition vehicles from starting and CVT/automatic transmissions from being able to be shifted out of Park.
Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.
Campaign 19V149000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engine, gasoline, turbo/superchargerMar 21, 2016
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 WRX vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 21, 2015, and Forester 2.0XT vehicles manufactured April 10, 2015, to October 20, 2015. The turbocharger air intake duct may crack and possibly result in an engine stall.
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the turbocharger air intake duct, and replace it as necessary, free of charge, depending on the lot number found on the duct. The recall began April 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTA-62.
Campaign 16V162000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
60 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, May 3, 2018
CAR ACCELERATES QUICKLY AND LURCHES FORWARD WHEN SLIGHTLY TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL TIMES FROM START OF CAR AND DURING GENERAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.
Engine, Mar 26, 2018
WITH THE CAR COMPLETELY WARMED UP, EITHER A HOT DAY OR A COLD DAY, DOESN'T MATTER, THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE FOR A COUPLE SECONDS WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC AFTER HAVING PARKED FOR A FEW MINUTES. IN OTHER WORDS, AFTER MAKING A STOP SOMEWHERE AND SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF, AND THEN STARTING IT UP AGAIN AND TRAVELING A BLOCK OR SO, SUDDENLY THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. YOU MAY BE ENTERING TRAFFIC FLOW AND NEED TO SPEED UP, AND IT WON'T GO. THE DEALER STONEWALLS BY SAYING THE ISSUE CANNOT BE DUPLICATED AND THEREFORE IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 24, 2017
I'VE HAD THIS CAR FOR 1.5 YEARS AND IT'S ALREADY STALLED TWICE TIMES. BOTH TIMES I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING MY CAR JUST STARTED TO RAPIDLY DECREASE SPEED. BOTH TIMES, I MY GAS METER SAID THAT I HAD OVER 50 MILES OF GAS LEFT IN MY CAR. ITS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING BECAUSE WHEN THE CAR SHUTS OFF, I HAVE ABOUT TWO MINUTE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE IT'S COMPLETELY DEAD.
Engine, Mar 2, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY SURGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE ACCELERATED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 05/02/17*LJ UPDATED 11/17/2017*JS
Engine, Sep 29, 2016
CAR HAS 15000 MILES-USES ONE QUART OF OIL EVERY 2000 MILES-THIS MUCH OIL CONSUMPTION INDICATES A SERIOUS PROBLEM. CAR WAS PURCHASED ON 03/05/2016.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Sep 3, 2016
WE GOT OUR 2016 SUBARU FORESTER PREMIUM 2.5I FROM BAY RIDGE DEALER IN BROOKLYN ON JUNE 7,2016.
Engine, Aug 12, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE ENGINE STALLED, MISFIRED, AND HESITATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 21, 2016
NON-TURBO MODEL STALLS IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. FIRST AIR CONDITIONER SHUTS OFF, ALONG WITH ELECTRICAL, THEN ENGINE STALLS. NOTHING UNUSUAL PRIOR TO SHUTTING OFF. VEHICLE BECOMES NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL WITH LIMITED BRAKING AND STEERING. CAR WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY RE-START. THIS HAS OCCURRED SIX TIMES SINCE NEW; DEALER HAS NOT FIXED PROBLEM, BUT HAS SEEN VIDEO OF THE CAR STALLING IN TRAFFIC THAT MY WIFE TOOK WHILE I WAS DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS IN GEAR, MOVING AT LOW TO MODERATE SPEED EACH TIME, WITH AC OPERATING AND NO OTHER ACCESSORIES OR UNUSUAL SITUATIONS.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 18, 2016
THREE TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 WEEKS, MY VEHICLE HAS STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALL THREE TIMES THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I WAS TRAVELING WITH 1/4 OR LESS OF GAS (BUT THESE INCIDENTS DID NOT OCCUR DUE TO HAVING RUN OUT OF GAS). ALL THREE TIMES I WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE OR DRIVE UPHILL. THE VEHICLE STALLED ALL TIMES AT AROUND 65-75 MPH OF SPEED, CAUSING ME GREAT CONCERN WHEN I HAD TO QUICKLY PULL OVER ON HEAVILY TRAVELED HIGHWAYS SUCH AS CT ROUTE 84 AND VT ROUTE 91. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO BERTERA SUBARU IN HARTFORD, CT, WHERE I HAD PURCHASED IT, AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX MY ISSUE UNTIL IT HAPPENED MORE CONSISTENTLY. I MENTIONED RECALL WTA-62 AND WAS TOLD IT DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. RECALL WQZ-61 WAS PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE.
Engine, Apr 9, 2016
MY SISTER AND I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON MAR. 25, 2016. ON APRIL 6, 2016 THE CAR STALLED ON HER TWICE. SHE WAS COMING OUT OF A STORE PARKING LOT, AND CROSSED THE INTERSECTION TURNING LEFT AND THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IN THE INTERSECTION ON THE BROKEN YELLOW LINES. SHE HAD TO PUT HER CAR ON 'PARK' AND RESTART. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED THE SAME WAY, COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT BUT DIDN'T REACH THE CENTER OF THE STREET, AND STALLED ON THE FAST LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SHE DID THE SAME, PUT THE CAR IN 'PARK' AND RESTARTED. I THEN TOOK HER CAR TO THE DEALER ON THURSDAY NIGHT 4/7/16 AND LEFT THE CAR THERE WITH 382 MILES ON IT. THE SERVICE ADVISOR DID TELL ME THAT THEY DID HAVE ANOTHER INCIDENT SIMILAR....SOME PEOPLE WERE TEST DRIVING A FORRESTER AND AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER, AND THEY FOUND THAT A FUEL LINE WAS CRINKLED. SHE SAID, I HOPE THIS WASN'T THE CAR. THEY DID CHECK THE CAR WITH A LAPTOP, BUT DROVE IT FOR ONLY 1 OR 1-1/2 MILES AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I BROUGHT THE CAR HOME AND HAVE 385 MILES ON IT NOW. MY CONCERN IS, THAT I DON'T WANT MY SISTER TO BE IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION, SHE JUST RECENT LOST HER HUSBAND OF 57 YEARS, AND I CONVINCED HER TO TRADE IN HER MINIVAN FOR A SMALLER SAFER VEHICLE.